President Joe Biden opined on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, that his labor Secretary nominee, Julie Su is a “real leader” who has supported unions, enforced worker safety and protected the victims of human trafficking.
“Julie is the American dream,” Biden said in remarks at the White House. “She’s committed to making sure that dream is in reach for every American,” Biden iterated.
Being the daughter of an immigrant mother who arrived on a cargo ship, Su disclosed that she believes “in the transformative power of America.”
Su noted that a union job gave her parents a path to the middle class, one that eventually led her to college at Stanford University and law school at Harvard University.
“To all workers who are toiling in the shadows, know that we see you, we stand with you, and we will fight for you,” Su assured.
Julie Su, the current Deputy Labor Secretary, would replace the departing incumbent, former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, whom Biden lauded by saying, “If I ever want anybody in the foxhole with me, I want Marty Walsh.”
As a civil rights attorney and former head of California’s labor department, Su was central to negotiations between labor and freight rail companies late last year, working to avert an economically incapacitating strike.
Additionally, Su has worked to broaden employee training programs and crack down on wage theft.
If confirmed by the Senate, Su would also be the first Asian American in the Biden administration to serve in the Cabinet at the secretary level.
Su was considered to lead the department when Biden won the White House but instead became the department’s Deputy.
Earlier this month, Marty Walsh announced his intention to leave the administration in order to lead the National Hockey League Players’ Association. Su will serve as the acting Secretary until the Senate acts on her nomination.
Biden had been under pressure from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and other Asian American and Pacific Islander advocates to select Su to head the department.
This administration was the first in more than two decades to not have a Cabinet secretary of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders(AAPI) descent, despite its regular declarations that it was the most diverse in history.
Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Trade Representative, Katherine Tai are of AAPI descent but do not lead a Cabinet department.
Su’s Nomination Draws Swift Support From Democrats
Su’s nomination drew swift support from Democrats on Capitol Hill, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer saying that she would be “phenomenal” in the job.
“The President couldn’t have picked a better nominee. I’m really excited about her, and we’re going to move to consider her nomination very, very quickly.”
Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who will preside over Su’s confirmation hearing as Chair of the Senate health, education, labor and pensions committee, praised the selection.
Sanders had urged consideration of Sara Nelson, the President of the flight attendants’ union, but made clear Su had his strong support.
“I’m confident Julie Su will be an excellent Secretary of Labor,” he tweeted.
“I look forward to working with her to protect workers’ rights and build the trade union movement in this country,” Sanders added.
Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, expressed that she was “overjoyed” by the selection, thanking Biden in a tweet for “nominating your first AAPI Cabinet Secretary!”
“It certainly is better late than never,” Chu said in a brief interview, citing CAPAC support for Su two years ago for the top Labor post and praising Su’s credentials as a leader and enforcer of labor laws including minimum wage and occupational safety standards.
Chu noted that Biden had said he would name a Cabinet that looked like America, and “he fulfilled that promise.”
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